Attorney General
J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today the indictment of R. Pamela
Mitchell, 50, and Helene Pendleton, 45, former employees
of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (“DSS”),
for felony theft and conspiracy. The charges, which were filed
by the Baltimore City Grand Jury, allege that the defendants stole
money from DSS in the form of fraudulent overtime requests. Mitchell
resides on Holgate Drive in Essex, and Pendleton lives in the 2900
block of Erdman Avenue in Baltimore.

The
case was investigated by the Inspector General’s Office
of the State Department of Human Resources and the Maryland State
Police. It will be prosecuted by the Criminal Investigations Division
of the Attorney General’s Office.

Although
an indictment is just an allegation and a defendant is presumed
innocent until proven guilty, the maximum penalty for
felony theft and conspiracy is 15 years imprisonment and a $1,000
fine.

An
arraignment date has been set for June 3, 2004 in the Baltimore
City Circuit Court.